Chinese Chicken Salad
Chinese Chicken Salad with Mandarin oranges
A Crowd Pleasing Salad with hints of Citrus!
This salad always makes me think of Christmas. It’s a staple on Christmas Eve but really it’s a wonderful salad for anytime of the year.
For as long as I can remember, my Auntie Sue—one of my favorite people in the world—has made her famous Chinese Chicken Salad for our holiday gatherings. And let me tell you, people LOVE this salad. It’s the kind of dish that disappears fast, with everyone going back for seconds (and thirds!).
Adding mandarin oranges adds a little extra sweetness and fun. The real magic, though? The dressing. It’s simple, yet completely addictive, tying everything together with the perfect balance of flavors.
I recently made this for a football game watch party, and it was the first dish to vanish—gone even before the wings! Whether you're making it for a holiday meal, game day, or an easy weeknight dinner, this salad is a guaranteed hit. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
What Makes This Chinese Chicken Salad So Special?
There are a few things that take this salad over the top:
Shredded poached chicken keeps it juicy, tender, and lean.
Mandarin oranges add a sweet and citrusy brightness.
Maifun rice sticks (crispy rice noodles) provide a fun, airy crunch.
And the addictive dressing? Balanced, savory-sweet, and packed with umami, thanks in part to a touch of MSG.
Yep, you read that right—MSG! It's optional, but it enhances the flavors and gives the dressing that craveable, restaurant-style quality. If you’re MSG-curious, this is a perfect intro—it’s a totally safe ingredient (despite old myths), and a little goes a long way.
Why Poached Chicken Works So Well
Poached chicken might not sound flashy, but it's ideal here. Gently simmering boneless, skinless chicken breasts keeps the meat moist and flavorful without drying it out. You can also use rotisserie chicken for a shortcut, but I love the clean, simple taste of homemade poached chicken in this recipe.
What Are Maifun Rice Sticks?
Maifun rice sticks are thin, delicate noodles that puff up when fried. They're the crunchy topping you probably remember from your favorite Chinese Chicken Salads at restaurants. You can find these online or at your local Asian market.
This is what the Maifun noodles look like. See the video below to watch how they are cooked.
How to make crispy rice sticks:
Carefully heat a few inches of neutral oil in a pan, then drop in small handfuls of dry maifun noodles. They’ll puff up in seconds! Remove with tongs and drain on paper towels. Watch closely—they cook fast.
How to Serve
This salad works beautifully as:
A side dish at your next holiday dinner or potluck
A light and satisfying lunch
A main dish when you add extra chicken or top it with avocado
More Questions? Check out the FAQs
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Prep all the components in advance—shred the chicken, fry the noodles, make the dressing, and chop the veggies. Store them separately, and toss everything together just before serving for maximum crunch.
Where can I find maifun rice sticks?
You can find them in the Asian section of most grocery stores or at any Asian market. Look for “maifun,” “rice vermicelli,” or “rice sticks.”
Is MSG really safe?
Yes! MSG (monosodium glutamate) is FDA-approved and found naturally in foods like tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. It enhances umami flavor and is totally fine in moderation. Read this if you’re hesitant about using MSG in your cooking and if you're sensitive to it, you can leave it out—but even a pinch makes the dressing pop.
Can I use a different protein?
Totally. You can use shredded turkey, rotisserie chicken, grilled tofu, or even shrimp. The salad is super flexible!
What greens work best?
A mix of shredded cabbage and iceberg lettuce is traditional, but feel free to use whatever you like—spinach, mixed greens, or even kale for an updated twist.
Chinese Chicken Salad with Mandarin Oranges Recipe
Chinese Chicken Salad with Mandarin Oranges
This crunchy Chinese Chicken Salad is a family favorite made with poached chicken, mandarin oranges, crispy maifun rice noodles, and a flavorful dressing. Perfect for holidays, parties, or easy dinners!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Remove chicken from the refrigerator ~30 minutes prior to cooking.
- After 30 minutes, trim any excess fat off of your chicken breasts. Bring a pot of water to boil. Ensure that the water will cover the chicken. Add in the juice of one lemon, bay leaf and optional black peppercorns.
- Once the water is boiling, add the chicken. When the water begins boiling again, cover the pot, remove from the heat and let sit for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove the chicken and let rest for ~10 minutes.
- Toast the almonds and sesame seeds (separately) put off to the side.
- Prepare the dressing. Mix all the ingredients together in a small jar and shake.
- Put the torn lettuce, green onions, toasted almonds and sesame seeds, and chicken into a large bowl.
- Dress the salad with the dressing you just made and toss so that everything is lightly covered. Reserve some in a jar if people want more.
- Deep fry the Maifun noodles in 1/2 inch of very hot, neutral oil. Fry just a small amount at time using just enough to fit in the pan. The Maifun noodles will fry very quickly and they will instantly expand and become light and airy. They’ll turn white and that’s how you know they’re done. Just remember that they’ll burn quickly so once they’ve expanded take them out and place them on paper towel.
- Top your salad with Maifun noodles and mandarin oranges. I like to leave the Maifun noodles separately if I’m not going to be serving this right away. That way they stay fresh and crispy.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
412Fat
19 gSat. Fat
3 gCarbs
36 gFiber
2 gNet carbs
34 gSugar
10 gProtein
24 gSodium
757 mgCholesterol
63 mgNutritional information provided here is based on estimates and may vary depending on the brand and preparation methods used. Always check food labels for accurate nutritional details.